Mavericks clinch playoff berth with gritty victory over Jazz

Handshakes, high-fives, smiles and hugs were plentiful for the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

The celebration, on the court, on the sidelines and in the locker room, came promptly after the determined Mavs clinched a playoff spot with a hard-fought 101-92 triumph over the Utah Jazz. The victory guarantees the Mavs (42-39) their 15th playoff appearance in the last 16 years and 15th winning season over the span.

It also guarantees that the Mavs won’t have to face the No. 1-seed Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs. Instead, depending on what happens over the next two days, the Mavs will finish fifth, sixth or seventh in the Western Conference playoff race and play San Antonio, Oklahoma City or the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round starting this weekend.

“I’m really thrilled for our guys,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “It guarantees a winning record and we still have a chance to move up, which is exciting.”

Excitement was etched all over the Mavs’ faces as they used their overwhelming edge in experience to knock off the youthful Jazz (40-41).

Dirk Nowitzki set the tone by scoring 10 of the Mavs’ first 14 points and finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and one jaw-breaking block at the rim on Jeff Withey, which Nowitzki capped by happily staring at the Mavs’ bench.

“I just timed it really good,” Nowitzki said of his block.

The Mavs end the regular season Wednesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs. And they certainly didn’t want their playoff hopes hinging on the outcome of that game.

So the Mavs came out and shot 44.4 percent against the Jazz, committed just nine turnovers and outrebounded Utah 47-38.

“Tonight was Game 7,” Carlisle said. “That’s the way we approached it.

“We did not want to back our way into this. We wanted to win a hard game in a hard environment, and we played the kind of game you have to play.”

Deron Williams was definitely on top of his game, although he was booed every time he touched the ball. As Williams returned to the place where he played from 2005-11, he silenced all the boos by leading the Mavs with 23 points and six assists.

Jazz fans are still upset with the way Williams left the franchise, and he used the booing as fuel.

“A little bit,” Williams said. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t.

“It definitely got me going out there a little bit. Not only the booing, but the stuff that was being said from when I was sitting on the bench — dead balls and things like that — I heard a lot.”

The Mavs blew the game open with a 20-7 run to extend a 66-64 lead to 86-71 with 5:07 remaining in the game. Wesley Matthews scored eight points in that run and Williams fed Salah Mejri for a pair of dunks.

Utah managed to get with 93-87, but rookie Justin Anderson threw down a massive dunk with 29.6 seconds left, and then the Mavs closed the game out from the free-throw line.

“This game meant a lot to us and we knew it meant a lot to them as well,” Williams said. “So coming in here we knew it was going to be like a playoff atmosphere, and it essentially was a playoff game because there was so much at stake.”

The loss left the Jazz needing help to make the playoffs. Utah must defeat the Los Angeles Lakers on the road Wednesday in Kobe Bryant’s final game, and then hope Houston loses at home to Sacramento on the same night in order to make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed out West.

J.J. Barea shrugged off a strained right groin and was in the starting lineup Monday for the Mavs. Barea played 27 minutes and finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting, but wanted to do whatever he could to help his teammates.

“I was able to be out there and help my team out, and it worked out,” Barea said. “Now I’ve got a couple of days here where I can really get it together.”

The Mavs led 22-20 after the first period and 50-46 at the half. All night, it just seemed like the Mavs were more determined to win, especially Nowitzki.

Back in 2001, Nowitzki clinched his first playoff series in this building when the Mavs rallied from an 0-2 hole to win a best-of-five series in five games against the Jazz. On Monday, Nowitzki hit his first three shots and had 10 points before the fans could settle into their seats.

“I got one word: Brilliant,” Carlisle said of Nowitzki. “Just pure brilliance.

“You knew he was dialed in and ready to go. He was great all night.”

So, too, was Williams.

“Deron Williams coming back in here and having to put up with all this booing and nonsense, I thought was just fabulous the way he approached the game,” Carlisle said. “He was focused, he was determined, and he showed what a great player he is because you come into this place in this kind of environment with this kind of a meaningful game and play the kind of game that he did coming off of being really down for two weeks, that’s big-time.”

Matthews, another ex-Jazz, also hit some big baskets and poured in 20 points. Also, Raymond Felton battled for 10 points in 25 minutes.

This night truly belonged to the Mavs, who was on their game more than the Jazz.

“It feels good that we have some fighters on this team that the playoffs mean something,” Nowitzki said. “It means something to this franchise, to the fans.

“The playoffs are competing at the highest level and as a player you got to embrace that and enjoy it. So we’re happy that we’re in, but obviously we’d love to win a few games.”

But first there’s the business of finishing the regular season against the Spurs.

“Any team wants to be as high a seed as possible and that’s what we’re going to try to do,’’ William said. “We’re going to try to care of business at home against San Antonio and hope for the best.”

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 1:06 AM with the headline "Mavericks clinch playoff berth with gritty victory over Jazz."